Two women from Thailand have been arrested by the police, for allegedly working as prostitutes at a salon in the Maldivian capital, Male’ City.
The two women, a 22-year-old and a 39-year-old, were arrested in a raid on the salon.
They were presented before the Criminal Court for their remand hearing on Friday.
The court found that the police submitted “sufficient” evidence to prove they worked as prostitutes. This includes statements from the police officers who attended the scene, and screenshots of various phone communications they had with various individuals.
Court documents also show that during the raid, the police found two individuals in a state of undress, as well as items used for sex.
Both women were remanded in a custodial jail for 15 days.
The latest arrests come as authorities investigate various establishment across the country, most commonly salons and massage parlors, used as fronts by prostitution rings.
Back in February, Home Minister Ali Ihusan said that the authorities had flagged 111 establishments involved in prostitution, from the Male’ area alone.